Rainwater Harvesting / Stormwater Management / Evaporation

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) and stormwater catchment are often used interchangeably referring to a wide range of practices that capture and utilize rainfall on a site, rather than funneling it into storm drains. In urban areas, unused and non infiltrated rainwater is simply stormwater in the making.

Stormwater consists of rainwater and other water sources (such as water from hoses, industry or agriculture) that run across impervious surfaces and saturated soil into street gutters and storm drains, streams, rivers, and finally the ocean. It carries with it chemicals and toxins that are picked up along the way, becoming a source of pollution.

Rainwater harvesting is the capture of rain that falls upon a catchment surface, such as a roof, is collected and conveyed into a storage tank or pond. With minimal pre-treatment the captured rainwater can be used for outdoor non-potable water uses such as irrigation.

Interest in the adaption of rainwater harvesting in urban areas is increasing as it provides the combined benefits of conserving potable water and reducing stormwater runoff. When harvested rainwater is used to irrigate landscaped areas, the water is either evapotranspired by vegetation or infiltrated into the soil, thereby helping to maintain predevelopment water balance. It is also a widely used useful technique in rural areas.

Rainwater is also a resource and important as the world’s human population demand exceeds the availability of readily available water. Techniques of rainwater harvesting with point source water management can potentially make urban environments more self-sustaining in terms of water.

Greenscape has become an industry leader in the harvesting and re-cycling of rainwater for irrigation purposes. We have designed and installed many systems that utilize the collection and storage of rainwater for reuse in irrigation.

At Greenscape we have ventured outside the box and have developed several ways to eliminate excessive rainwater through evaporation.